When James Holzhauer’s incredible Jeopardy! reign finally came to an end, some wondered if the loss had all been planned.
The professional Las Vegas gambler was known for his big bets, and yet he had only wagered $1,399 in Final Jeopardy on Monday night’s episode.
‘A modest one, for the first time,’ host Alex Trebek remarked when he saw the number.
But many have since risen to Holzhauer’s defense including Brad Rutter, who has won the most amount of money in the history of American game shows.
When James Holzhauer only wagered $1,399 in Final Jeopardy during his last game, some wondered if he had thrown the game
But many have since risen to Holzhauer’s defense including Brad Rutter (pictured), who has won the most amount of money in the history of American game shows
Rutter competed in Jeopardy! in 2000, when contestants who won five consecutive games in a row had to retire undefeated, with a guaranteed spot in the Tournament of Champions. He went on to win more than $3million in various tournaments.
The game show veteran said Holzhauer ‘absolutely’ made ‘the right wager’ on Monday’s episode.
‘[It] was 100 percent his best chance at winning,’ Rutter told the Washington Post.
While Holzhauer played a perfect game, not missing a single question, he couldn’t catch Emma Boettcher.
The 27-year-old University of Chicago librarian nabbed both of the Daily Doubles in Double Jeopardy. By the time Final Jeopardy came around, she had $26,600 while Holzhauer had $23,400. Jay Sexton, the third contestant, had $11,000.
While Holzhauer played a perfect game, not missing a single question, he couldn’t catch librarian Emma Boettcher
The 27-year-old University of Chicago librarian nabbed both of the Daily Doubles in Double Jeopardy. By the time Final Jeopardy came around, she had $26,600 while Holzhauer had $23,400. Holzhauer knew she would win if she guessed the answer correctly (and she did)
Holzhauer knew he would only win if Boettcher got the question wrong. So his main concern was making sure he didn’t get third place if he also answered incorrectly.
He thus bet just enough to ensure that, even if Sexton got the question right and bet it all, he would still beat him by $1.
Boettcher had been similarly strategic with her bet, wagering $1 more than what Holzhauer would have won if he had bet everything and got Final Jeopardy right.
Holzhauer confirmed this strategy as he talked to Action Network following his loss.
‘I knew I could only win if Emma missed Final Jeopardy, as there was no way she wouldn’t bet to cover my all-in bet,’ he said.
‘What a game! Oh my gosh!’ host Alex Trebek exclaimed after Holzhauer lost. Holzhauer then walked over and gave Boettcher a high-five
Holzhauer took to Twitter on Monday night to congratulate Boettcher for her ‘world-beating performance’ during the episode
Holzhauer also called out critics who thought he would lose by flubbing one of his big bets
‘So my only concern was getting overtaken by third place, and I bet just enough to make sure of locking him out.’
‘Betting big would have looked good for the cameras, but now I turn my straight bet (Emma misses) into a parlay (Emma misses and I get it right).’
The final clue read: ‘A great reckoning in a little room’ in “As You Like It” is usually taken to refer to this author’s premature death.’
Both Holzhauer and Boettcher gave the correct response of ‘Who is Kit Marlowe?’
‘What a game! Oh my gosh!’ host Alex Trebek exclaimed after Holzhauer lost.
Holzhauer tweeted at Ken Jennings, who still holds the all-time $2.5million record, telling him ‘you win this round’
Jennings also tweeted at Holzhauer, sharing a photo from Avengers: Endgame after Thanos has wiped out half the universe
Holzhauer then walked over and gave Boettcher a high-five.
‘Nobody likes to lose,’ he said. ‘But I’m very proud of how I did, and I really exceeded my own expectations for the show. So I don’t feel bad about it.’
Holzhauer took to Twitter on Monday night to congratulate Boettcher for her ‘world-beating performance’.
‘There’s no greater honor than knowing an opponent had to play a perfect game to defeat me,’ he wrote.
Holzhauer also called out critics who thought he would lose by flubbing one of his famous big bets.
‘Nope, James got his a** kicked straight up by an elite player who nailed her own big bets,’ he added.
Holzhauer was just $56,484 shy of beating Ken Jenning’s 2004 winnings record.
‘You win this round,’ he tweeted at Jennings after Monday night’s episode aired.
But it was still an incredible run for Holzhauer, who won 32 games and earned $2,464,216 in total winnings.
He now holds the single-game winnings record with $131,126 and nabbed the top 16 single-day scores.
Holzhauer answered 97 percent of his answers correctly, and only missed one out of 33 Final Jeopardy questions.
His success also did wonders for Jeopardy! itself, which earned its best ratings in 14 years during Holzhauer’s streak.